13th AHV pension financing vote on SRF 1 political evening, Digi Mart USA News (Switzerland): SRF will broadcast another political evening on Wednesday, November 11, 2026. The Abstimmungs-Arena debate on financing the 13th AHV pension, featuring Federal Councillor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, will air during prime time, directly after a Rundschau report on the proposal.
Pensioners will receive a 13th AHV pension for the first time in December. Parliament is implementing the initiative for a 13th AHV pension, which voters approved in March 2024.
The cost of the expansion is over 4 billion Swiss francs per year at the start and will rise later.
The Federal Council and Parliament want to finance part of the 13th AHV pension by raising value-added tax. The standard rate would increase by 0.4 percentage points and the special rate for hotels by 0.2 percentage points.
The reduced rate, which applies to everyday goods such as food and medicine, would remain unchanged.
Because adjusting VAT rates requires an amendment to the federal constitution, voters will decide on the proposal on November 29.
The Rundschau report, titled “Who pays for the 13th AHV pension? SP’s Marti versus FDP’s Müller,” follows a retired mountain bike group and a pensioner who must manage on little money.
SP National Councillor Samira Marti campaigns for the VAT increase, while FDP Council of States member Damian Müller argues for a no vote. The report also examines why the question of a higher retirement age plays a role in the financing debate.
It airs Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 8:05 p.m. on SRF 1.
Parliament struggled for a long time over financing. A mixed model of higher wage contributions and higher VAT failed, so only VAT will now be raised.
The proposal is supported by the SP, Die Mitte, the Greens, the GLP and the Swiss Trade Union Federation. Supporters say the increase is an important step toward financially stable AHV pensions and ensures the costs of the expansion are spread across all generations.
Opponents, led by the FDP and SVP, warn of added burdens on businesses and households. They call instead for an overall strategy for the AHV and savings at the federal level.
The Abstimmungs-Arena debate, moderated by Sandro Brotz, will air Wednesday, November 11, 2026, at 8:40 p.m. on SRF 1.
Its central questions are whether VAT should be raised to finance the 13th AHV pension or whether the tax burden on businesses and households would rise too sharply, and how the AHV can be stabilized over the long term.
